Roe v. Wade Anniversary Commemorated across Chicago Area

Posted by Ann Scheidler (January 21, 2013 at 12:52 pm)

Pro-lifers gather at the historic Chicago Water Tower, January 20

As we approach the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade U. S. Supreme Court decision, striking down all protection for unborn children in the United States, there were several memorial events in the Chicago area over the weekend.

On Saturday morning, residents of the Fox Valley gathered at the Aurora Planned Parenthood mega-mill for the regular monthly protest and prayer vigil, with a special emphasis on the role of Planned Parenthood over the past forty years of legal abortion.

On Saturday afternoon, over 400 people gathered at St. Theresa Parish in Palatine for a prayer vigil led by Bishop George Rassas and a march to the plaza at Northwest Highway and Hicks Road, where Pro-Life Action League National Director Joe Scheidler was the featured speaker.

Saturday evening the Archdiocese of Chicago commemorated the Roe v. Wade anniversary with a Respect Life Mass at Holy Name Cathedral, celebrated by Bishop Alberto Rojas.

Sunday afternoon, the Chicago March for Life kicked off from Holy Name Cathedral at 1:30. Nearly 400 pro-lifers marched in the freezing cold to the historic Water Tower, where they heard talks by Joe Scheidler, along with WLS radio talk show host Dan Proft, and Couples for Christ president Manny Hermano, Special Assistant to Cardinal Francis George, Mary Hallan FioRito.

In addition to the above mentioned activities, dozens of parishes, churches and pro-life groups held memorial prayer services across the Chicagoland area. Later this week, many local residents will board buses and planes to join the annual March for Life in Washington, DC in both a spirit of solemnity as we mourn 55 millions lives lost, and a spirit of hope as we look forward to the day when abortion is unthinkable.